SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION The Scientific Revolution had the greatest influence on the

Enlightenment ideas of natural law and reason Scientists questioned traditional beliefs about the universe Observation and experimentation were central ideas

COPERNICUS AND GALILEO Galileo Galilei’s observations supported the theories of

Nicholas CopernicusThey were both astronomers who supported the

heliocentric theory (planets revolve around the sun)Their ideas developed into the scientific method (logical

procedure for gathering and testing ideas)

HELIOCENTRIC THEORY

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS Central belief = the use of reason would lead to human

progressPhilosophers of this period believed society could be best

improved by applying reason and the laws of nature Similar to the Scientific Revolution because this movement

encouraged the spread of new ideas Similar to the Renaissance because a new questioning spirit

and attitude emerged

ENLIGHTENMENT POLITICAL VIEWSEuropean political thinkers who supported this movement

believed governments should protect the rights of people They also supported representative democracy Writers during this period wanted to change the relationship

between people and their government

JOHN LOCKE Important Enlightenment philosopher from England Believed the purpose of government was to protect the natural rights of

people (life, liberty, property)Governments should be based on the consent of the people He directly influenced the following phrase located in the Declaration of

Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

BARON DE MONTESQUIEUEnlightenment philosopher who wrote The Spirit of LawsHe believed in separating the government into three

branches: legislative, executive, and judicialThree branches of government would prevent tyrants from

rising to power

ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHERSJohn Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau,

and Voltaire all believed in establishing a democratic republic (people elect their leaders)

Their ideas influenced movements for political reform and revolutions in Europe and the Americas

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION Scholars in Europe during the mid-1500s replaced old

assumptions with new theories This was a new way of thinking about the natural world New way = careful observation and a willingness to

question accepted beliefs

HELIOCENTRIC THEORY Presented by Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus Heliocentric Theory = the stars, Earth, and other planets

revolved around the sun This challenged the geocentric theory that stated all

heavenly bodies revolved around the EarthGeocentric theory was supported by Greek philosopher,

Aristotle, Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, and Christianity

GALILEO GALILEI Italian scientist who built upon Copernicus’ ideas about

astronomy He built and used his own telescope in 1609 to study the

heavens Discovered 4 moons orbiting Jupiter, the sun’s dark spots, and

the moon’s surface was rough and unevenIn 1633, he was forced to confess to the Catholic Church that

the ideas of Copernicus were false, otherwise he would have faced torture

SCIENTIFIC METHOD Developed by Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes Modern scientific methods are based on their ideas Scientists have shown that observation and experimentation,

together with general laws expressed by mathematics, can help people better understand the natural world

Scientific Method = observation-> question-> hypothesis-> experimentation-> conclusion

ISAAC NEWTON English scientist who discovered the law of universal gravitation Law = all physical objects are affected equally by the same force; this force

ruled the motion of the planets and all matter on Earth and in spaceEvery object in the universe attracts every other object The degree of attraction depends upon the mass of the objects and the

distance between them He believed that God created the universe to function perfectly according

to mathematics

THE ENLIGHTENMENT This was a revolution in intellectual activity that changed

Europeans’ view of government and societyScientific Revolution led to the Enlightenment which was a

movement stressing the use of reason and logic The literate middle class, thinkers and artists, and American

colonists were all influenced by this movement

THOMAS HOBBESEnglish political thinker who distrusted humans and

favored a strong government to keep orderIn his book Leviathan (1651), Hobbes promotes social

contract, which is achieving order in society by giving power to an absolute monarch

JOHN LOCKEEnglish philosopher who criticized absolute monarchy Consent of the Governed = he proclaimed that governments get their

power from the peopleStresses that people have a right to overthrow an unjust governmentNatural rights = he believed that all people are born free and equal and

have the right to life, liberty, and property His ideas directly influenced the American Revolution and our

Constitution

PHILOSOPHESPhiliosphes is the French word for philosophers They believed progress (improvement) for society could

be achieved through reason, nature, happiness, and liberty

Salons = regular social gatherings where philosophers, writers, artists, and scientists met to spread Enlightenment thinking; began in Paris

VOLTAIRE French philosopher who fought for tolerance, reason,

freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech Made powerful enemies and was imprisoned twice for

his views His view on religious freedom directly influenced our

First Amendment in the U.S. Bill of Rights

BARON DE MONTESQUIEUFrench writer who favored separation of powers to keep one

body from completely running a governmentHe believed in three branches of government – legislative,

executive, and judicial In his book, On the Spirit of Laws (1748), he explains the

concept of “checks and balances”

JEAN JACQUES ROSSEAUBelieved that civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness He believed that the only good government was one that was

freely formed by the people and guided by the “general will” of society

His book, The Social Contract (1762), explains the idea of a direct democracy

NEOCLASSICAL STYLE Pre-Enlightenment art style was baroque - grand and ornate

designs (over-the-top)Enlightenment style was neoclassical, which emphasized

elegance and simplicity New style was based on Greek and Roman themesClassical music emerges – lighter and more elegant than

earlier style; led by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven

ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS Monarchs who embraced Enlightenment values to strengthen their ruleFrederick II - king of Prussia (1740 to 1786); reforms education and justice

system, grants freedom of worship, and abolishes tortureCatherine the Great – ruler of Russia (1762 to 1796); she responded to a

peasant revolt by giving nobles more power over serfs and successfully expanded the Russian empire by seizing northern coast of Black Sea and large parts of Poland

AMERICAN REVOLUTION Enlightenment ideas swept through Europe as well as colonial America The spirit of questioning during the Scientific Revolution influenced the

American Revolution because it led to challenging ideas about government

After England passed the Stamp Act in 1765, American colonists accused Parliament of “taxation without representation” which was a violation of their “natural rights”

The colonists won the American Revolution (1775 to 1781) due to a strong motivation to fight for their land, mistakes made by British generals, guerilla warfare, and the British having to fight an overseas war

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Written by Thomas Jefferson and issued on July 4th, 1776 Colonial leaders used Enlightenment ideas to justify

independence John Locke’s natural laws of life, liberty, and property, as well

as the pursuit of happiness, were incorporated into the actual document

ARTICLES OF CONFEDRATIONIn 1781, the original 13 States created a government

with a legislature only (Congress) and no executive or judicial branches

Result was a weak national government that failed to provide unity and order

UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION Leaders call the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to revise

the ArticlesIn 1787, the Constitution creates three branches of

governmentProvides checks and balances - ensures branches share power

equally Promotes federal system - power divided between national

and state governments

BILL OF RIGHTS Some Americans feared too much national power and few protections of

rightsLeaders won support for creating a new Constitution by adding a Bill of

Rights (completed in 1789 and ratified in 1791)Bill of Rights = the first ten amendments to Constitution that protect

human freedoms and civil liberties The Bill of Rights was influenced by John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau